Gerry McGeough
Encyclopedia
Gerry McGeough is a prominent Irish republican who was a volunteer
in the Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA), a former Sinn Féin
activist and editor of the defunct The Hibernian
magazine. McGeough broke with Sinn Féin in 2007 and he is now an independent republican activist. McGeough is currently serving 20 years imprisonment for attempted murder, although he is eligible for an early release under the Good Friday Agreement terms.
in 1977, aged 19. After activity in Ireland and Europe, he was arrested (along with another IRA member, Gerry Hanratty) in August 1988 while crossing the Dutch-German border with two AK47 rifles in his car. He was charged with attacks on the British Army of the Rhine and held for four years in a specially-built German detention centre. His trial in Germany was interrupted by extradition to the United States, where he was charged with attempting to buy surface-to-air-missiles in 1983. He served three years of his sentence in US prisons until his release in 1996 whereupon he was deported to the Republic of Ireland.
McGeough led Sinn Féin's opposition to the referendum on the Nice Treaty
in the Republic of Ireland. He was also a Sinn Féin
national executive (ard-comhairle) member before becoming disgusted with what he perceives as the socially "liberal" views of "nouveau Sinn Féin".
He accompanied Justin Barrett
on a lecture tour of Irish towns in March 2004, in support of the latters' unsuccessful attempt to become a member of the European Parliament.
In May 2006, McGeough, as editor, and Charles Byrne, a 28-year-old from Drogheda
, launched a monthly magazine called The Hibernian
, dedicated to “Faith, Family and Country”. The magazine had articles espousing the views of Father Denis Fahey
and also promoted the Society of St. Pius X
. McGeough is associated with the Ancient Order of Hibernians
.
In 2007, McGeough declared he would be standing for election in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections
against Sinn Féin in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency
. He put himself forward as a protest against Sinn Féin's vote in January 2007 to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI); a condition demanded by the DUP for re-instating the stalled Northern Irish Assembly. He polled 1.8% of the vote.
The Hibernian ceased publication in 2008.
in Ballygawley, was delivering mail in his job as a postman near Aughnacloy
when he was shot. He was an also an off-duty member of the Ulster Defence Regiment
. Brush, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, managed to return fire in the incident and shot his assailent who fled. McGeough and Vincent McAnespie were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. Both men were remanded in custody to appear at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on 4 April 2007. McGeough was granted bail on 29 March. Gerry Mcgeough has released a document that he claims means he was given a Royal Pardon and therefore ineligible for prosecution, though the Northern Ireland Office
has stated that it is instead Prerogative of Mercy
that was applied to a small number of cases under the Early Release Scheme to resolve technical anomalies.
McGeogh was convicted in February 2011 of attempted murder
, possessing firearms with intent, and IRA membership. He was sentenced in April 2011 to 20 years imprisonment, although under the Good Friday Agreement he should serve no more than two years in jail.
McAnespie was acquitted of all charges against him.
Volunteer (Irish republican)
Volunteer, often abbreviated Vol., is a term used by a number of Irish republican paramilitary organisations to describe their members. Among these have been the various forms of the Irish Republican Army and the Irish National Liberation Army...
in the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA), a former Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
activist and editor of the defunct The Hibernian
The Hibernian
The Hibernian was a monthly Irish magazine with the subtitle “Faith, Family and Country”. Twenty-nine issues were published between May 2006 and September 2008....
magazine. McGeough broke with Sinn Féin in 2007 and he is now an independent republican activist. McGeough is currently serving 20 years imprisonment for attempted murder, although he is eligible for an early release under the Good Friday Agreement terms.
Early life
McGeough joined the Provisional IRA East Tyrone BrigadeProvisional IRA East Tyrone Brigade
The East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army , also known as the Tyrone/Monaghan Brigade was one of the most active republican paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles"...
in 1977, aged 19. After activity in Ireland and Europe, he was arrested (along with another IRA member, Gerry Hanratty) in August 1988 while crossing the Dutch-German border with two AK47 rifles in his car. He was charged with attacks on the British Army of the Rhine and held for four years in a specially-built German detention centre. His trial in Germany was interrupted by extradition to the United States, where he was charged with attempting to buy surface-to-air-missiles in 1983. He served three years of his sentence in US prisons until his release in 1996 whereupon he was deported to the Republic of Ireland.
McGeough led Sinn Féin's opposition to the referendum on the Nice Treaty
Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to ratify the Treaty of Nice. It was effected by the Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 2002, which was approved by referendum on 19 October 2002 and signed into law on 7 November of the same year...
in the Republic of Ireland. He was also a Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
national executive (ard-comhairle) member before becoming disgusted with what he perceives as the socially "liberal" views of "nouveau Sinn Féin".
Catholic activist
McGeough is known for his strong Catholic views:"You would never get a leader of Sinn Féin condemning abortion, homosexual "marriage" or anything of that nature. I, as an Irish nationalist and Roman Catholic, never want to see the day when there are abortion clinics in every market town in Ireland. But looking around there is no political grouping willing to take a stance against that".
He accompanied Justin Barrett
Justin Barrett
Justin Barrett is an Irish conservative nationalist, pro-life and anti-immigration activist.Barrett was involved in the Constitutional Rights Campaign, which unsuccessfully campaigned to prevent the ratification of the Single European Act in 1986...
on a lecture tour of Irish towns in March 2004, in support of the latters' unsuccessful attempt to become a member of the European Parliament.
In May 2006, McGeough, as editor, and Charles Byrne, a 28-year-old from Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, launched a monthly magazine called The Hibernian
The Hibernian
The Hibernian was a monthly Irish magazine with the subtitle “Faith, Family and Country”. Twenty-nine issues were published between May 2006 and September 2008....
, dedicated to “Faith, Family and Country”. The magazine had articles espousing the views of Father Denis Fahey
Denis Fahey
Father Denis Fahey, C.S.Sp. was an Irish Catholic priest. Fahey promoted the Catholic social doctrine of Christ the King, and was involved in Irish politics through his organisation Maria Duce. Fahey firmly believed that "the world must conform to Our Divine Lord, not He to it", defending the...
and also promoted the Society of St. Pius X
Society of St. Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X is an international Traditionalist Catholic organisation, founded in 1970 by the French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre...
. McGeough is associated with the Ancient Order of Hibernians
Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be Catholic and either Irish born or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the United States, where it was founded in New York City in 1836...
.
In 2007, McGeough declared he would be standing for election in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
against Sinn Féin in the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency
Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Assembly constituency)
Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. He put himself forward as a protest against Sinn Féin's vote in January 2007 to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI); a condition demanded by the DUP for re-instating the stalled Northern Irish Assembly. He polled 1.8% of the vote.
The Hibernian ceased publication in 2008.
Arrest and conviction
On 8 March 2007 McGeough was arrested by the PSNI whilst leaving the election count centre in Omagh. The arrest was in connection with the 1981 shooting of Sammy Brush. Brush, who is now a councillor for the Democratic Unionist PartyDemocratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
in Ballygawley, was delivering mail in his job as a postman near Aughnacloy
Aughnacloy
Aughnacloy, sometimes spelt Auchnacloy , is a village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Close to the border with County Monaghan, the village is about southwest of Dungannon, and southeast of Ballygawley. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 801....
when he was shot. He was an also an off-duty member of the Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
. Brush, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, managed to return fire in the incident and shot his assailent who fled. McGeough and Vincent McAnespie were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. Both men were remanded in custody to appear at Dungannon Magistrates' Court on 4 April 2007. McGeough was granted bail on 29 March. Gerry Mcgeough has released a document that he claims means he was given a Royal Pardon and therefore ineligible for prosecution, though the Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
has stated that it is instead Prerogative of Mercy
Prerogative of Mercy
In the British tradition the Prerogative of Mercy is one of the historic Royal Prerogatives of the British monarch in which he or she can grant pardons to convicted persons...
that was applied to a small number of cases under the Early Release Scheme to resolve technical anomalies.
McGeogh was convicted in February 2011 of attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
, possessing firearms with intent, and IRA membership. He was sentenced in April 2011 to 20 years imprisonment, although under the Good Friday Agreement he should serve no more than two years in jail.
McAnespie was acquitted of all charges against him.
External links
- Gerry McGeough's blog (inactive since 2007)